"Careful. Don't touch it yet."
Miss Puppet floated down from his shoulder and circled Shade's right hand twice.
"Your hand wasn't affected by Wither at all?"
Shade endured the pain as he answered.
"When I was struck by their attack in the Blood Collection Workshop, I did feel my flesh shrink slightly. But when I collided head-on with Wither just now, I don't know whether it was because of this Fire Seed Source, but I feel like I've already adapted to Wither's power."
"Unbelievable. As long as it's a normal flesh-and-blood lifeform, it would be affected—"
Miss Feliana examined Shade's right hand, then made a judgment that eased everyone's worries.
"It's not a serious problem. Dig it out first."
"Alright."
Shade first restored the Fire Seed Source that had embedded itself in his palm during the collision to its metallic state, then gritted his teeth and dug the metal out of his palm.
"Does it hurt?"
Miss Puppet asked softly. Gina worriedly held Shade's right arm, while Miss Bladewei pressed her lips together and held her own right arm, as though she were experiencing phantom pain. The Old Witch stared at the veins in Shade's arm. Only after confirming that the Fire Seed Source had been removed and seeing the veins in his right hand gradually return to normal did she relax slightly.
"You were far too reckless just now."
The tiny Miss Feliana reprimanded him, then flew above his palm and cast a protective spell over the horrifying wound, preventing the flesh from mutating under the influence of the surroundings. They did not need to heal Shade. The Fire Seed Source had left behind a great deal of life force in the wound, and it was now healing at a visible rate.
Gina asked with concern.
"Shade, how do